Kori Ellis
02-14-2006, 07:55 PM
Rodeo Road Trip Brings Us Together
by Sam Presti, Spurs Assistant G.M.
February 13, 2006
http://www.nba.com/spurs/features/presti_060213.html
Well, it’s that time of year again...The Rodeo Road Trip. This year it has taken us through the likes of Utah, Portland, New Jersey, Cleveland, Philadelphia and others prior to heading home and into the familiar confines of the AT&T Center. In all, we will log 8,362 miles in the air…
Although much is made of the challenges seen in such a long stretch without a home game, we actually embrace the opportunity. We take a very optimistic view of the challenge and generally look at the trip as a chance to see where we are as a collective unit.
The road truly demands a team to come together given all of the adversity that accompanies playing away from home. In addition to the challenges we face on the court, there are also numerous issues and details that spring up off the floor as well. If you play "planes, trains and automobiles" long enough you're going to come across some unexpected hurdles. Luckily for our group, we have Will Sevening, our Head Athletic Trainer in charge of all of these logistics. He is the guy that corrals the unexpected with MacGyver-like poise. We will be learning more about Will and some of our other core people that work as the “team behind the team” in future blogs.
There is something about being on the road that really tests the mettle of a group all working toward one common goal. It breeds somewhat of a "bunker mentality" knowing that it will take a great deal of trust, focus and discipline to get the job done as we head into some very imposing NBA arenas.
Our guys understand the importance of the trip and also the way that we have to approach it: Step by Step. We have a lot of experienced guys on this team but most of them have never experienced a jaunt on the road quite like this until they arrive in the Alamo City.
By the end of the trip, one way or another, we hope to learn more about our team. The Rodeo Road Trip can serve as a wonderful opportunity to assess where this Spurs team is at the moment. A team in any sense is continually growing and evolving with each game and practice, right up until the final buzzer sounds. We try to keep our focus on the process of getting better and improving rather than on pure outcomes; this approach has served us well on the trip in year’s past.
Success in any field is rarely achieved with one dramatic, grand slam, event or decision. Instead, it is often times an accumulation of small, rather mundane events that go "well" and ultimately culminate into a greater and more successful whole. In essence, this is what the RRT boils down to for us. It challenges our discipline to “consistent play and preparation” as we continue to stay focused on slowly chipping away at that rock....
Thanks for your time, and continued support of our team. I look forward to posting again in the future.
by Sam Presti, Spurs Assistant G.M.
February 13, 2006
http://www.nba.com/spurs/features/presti_060213.html
Well, it’s that time of year again...The Rodeo Road Trip. This year it has taken us through the likes of Utah, Portland, New Jersey, Cleveland, Philadelphia and others prior to heading home and into the familiar confines of the AT&T Center. In all, we will log 8,362 miles in the air…
Although much is made of the challenges seen in such a long stretch without a home game, we actually embrace the opportunity. We take a very optimistic view of the challenge and generally look at the trip as a chance to see where we are as a collective unit.
The road truly demands a team to come together given all of the adversity that accompanies playing away from home. In addition to the challenges we face on the court, there are also numerous issues and details that spring up off the floor as well. If you play "planes, trains and automobiles" long enough you're going to come across some unexpected hurdles. Luckily for our group, we have Will Sevening, our Head Athletic Trainer in charge of all of these logistics. He is the guy that corrals the unexpected with MacGyver-like poise. We will be learning more about Will and some of our other core people that work as the “team behind the team” in future blogs.
There is something about being on the road that really tests the mettle of a group all working toward one common goal. It breeds somewhat of a "bunker mentality" knowing that it will take a great deal of trust, focus and discipline to get the job done as we head into some very imposing NBA arenas.
Our guys understand the importance of the trip and also the way that we have to approach it: Step by Step. We have a lot of experienced guys on this team but most of them have never experienced a jaunt on the road quite like this until they arrive in the Alamo City.
By the end of the trip, one way or another, we hope to learn more about our team. The Rodeo Road Trip can serve as a wonderful opportunity to assess where this Spurs team is at the moment. A team in any sense is continually growing and evolving with each game and practice, right up until the final buzzer sounds. We try to keep our focus on the process of getting better and improving rather than on pure outcomes; this approach has served us well on the trip in year’s past.
Success in any field is rarely achieved with one dramatic, grand slam, event or decision. Instead, it is often times an accumulation of small, rather mundane events that go "well" and ultimately culminate into a greater and more successful whole. In essence, this is what the RRT boils down to for us. It challenges our discipline to “consistent play and preparation” as we continue to stay focused on slowly chipping away at that rock....
Thanks for your time, and continued support of our team. I look forward to posting again in the future.